The overarching message of disruptive change on Mad Men this season, reminds me of the impact digital had on the PR industry nearly a decade ago now. Just as Roger and Don try desperately to maintain a grip on a society that being…
Noise, noise, noise – and other lessons from SXSWi
I recently attended a breakfast panel of SXSWi speakers, talking about the key takeaways from this year’s conference in Austin. What really stood out to me was the number of times the panelists mentioned noise. It’s no surprise that SXSWi – with nearly…
Yes, Details Do Matter – a Lesson From Steve Jobs
It’s been nearly two months since Steve Jobs died. While many of the stories that emerged following his death were memorable and enlightening, there’s one simple story that really stuck with me. It was posted on Vic Gundotra’s public feed on Google…
Diversity and PR
Even back in my days at PRWeek, the subject of diversity in the PR industry was a hot topic. In those days, there was even a reporter whose beat included this subject. And unfortunately, in the words of PRWeek’s current editor in…
AirBnB Fixes PR Problem
AirBnB has been one of my favorite new sites for more than a year now. It’s an online service that matches people with short-term vacation rentals that are typically people’s private homes or guest rooms. There’s obviously a huge leap-of-faith that folks…
Be Humble and Know Your Limitations
Matt Kelly, editor of Compliance Week, recently spoke to March about media relations. Known for his candor, Matt didn’t disappoint when he conveyed the stark reality of media pitching — journalists are inundated with irrelevant blasts, so most pitches are ignored. Of…
Panel Discussion: Angels, VCs and Start-up Capital, Part 2 – What’s a Super Angel?
Forbes recently ran its “100 Most Powerful Venture Capitalists,” with a special feature profiling its #1 choice, Jim Breyer. The piece notes that when Breyer invested $1 million of his own money into Facebook back in 2005, some thought he “crossed a…
So, What Is Clean Energy?
The catastrophe in Japan has resurfaced concerns raised when President Obama called for clean energy sources to power 80 percent of the country’s energy needs during his State of the Union address. Then, President Obama put forth a rather inclusive definition of…
Will High Gas Prices Force Us to Look More Closely at Clean Energy?
With the country grappling with gasoline prices that are averaging $4 a gallon, some are looking at this dizzying hike as an opportunity to seriously consider alternative energy options again. CNET senior writer, Martin LaMonica explores this question and points out how…
Most Powerful Women in Silicon Valley Includes Comms Leader
In response to criticism about the lack of women in Silicon Valley, San Jose Mercury News columnist, Chris O’Brien, recently compiled a list of the most powerful women in Silicon Valley. Of course, women have increasingly taken on positions of significance and…